General Status of the Gaia Mission and Expected Performance

Timo Prusti

ELSA, Paris, 7 June 2010

Mission requirements• A Stereoscopic Census of Our Galaxy

• Astrometry (V < 20):

• completeness to 20 mag (on-board detection) 109 stars

• parallax accuracy: 7 µarcsec at <10 mag; 12–25 µarcsec at 15 mag; and 100–300 µarcsec at 20 mag

• Photometry (V < 20):

• astrophysical diagnostics (low-dispersion photometry) + chromaticity

• 8–20 mmag at 15 mag: Teff ~ 200 K, log g, [Fe/H] to 0.2 dex, extinction

• Radial velocity (V < 16.5–17):

• third component of space motion, perspective acceleration

• <1 km/s at 13-13.5 mag and <15 km/s at 16.5-17 mag

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Gaia mission

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Mission elements

• Satellite and Payload: EADS Astrium

• Launch: Soyuz-Fregat from Kourou

• Mission Operations Centre: ESA-ESOC and ground stations Cebreros and New Norcia

• Science Operations Centre: ESA-ESAC

• Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC)

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ELSA, Paris, 7 June 2010

Mission elements

• Satellite and Payload: EADS Astrium

• Launch: Soyuz-Fregat from Kourou

• Mission Operations Centre: ESA-ESOC and ground stations Cebreros and New Norcia

• Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) including Science Operations Centre at ESAC

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Launcher

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Mission Operations Centre

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Radiation calibration

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Scientific Performance• 2010: Consolidation of performance

estimates with all known effects included

• Payload Critical Design Review: February-April 2010

• Spacecraft Critical Design Review: July-October 2010

• Consolidated scientific performances from February:

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Astrometry

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Photometry

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Spectroscopy

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Conclusions

• Design ready: EADS Astrium focusing on assembly, integration and testing

• DPAC focusing on calibrating Gaia

• Scientific Community getting ready and GREAT is there to help

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Schedule

ProposalConcept & Technology Study

Mission Selection

Re-Assessment StudyPhase B1

Scientific operation

Launch autumn 2012

Final

Studies

Mission Data Processing

Implementation

Data Processing

Definition

Operation

Mission Products Intermediate

Selection of Prime Contractor (EADS Astrium)

Phase B2Phase C/D

Software Development

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Now

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Gaia

Unraveling the chemical and dynamical history of our Galaxy